Iran, Iraq ink 14 bilateral agreements during Pezeshkian's state visit
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The Iranian president and Iraqi prime minister sign 14 memorandums of understanding across several sectors.
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Iraq's Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani (R) greets Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian ahead of their meeting in Baghdad, Iraq on 11 September 2024 (AFP)
The Republic of Iraq welcomed on Wednesday the newly elected Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during his first official foreign visit, which has been described as highly significant.
The visit included the signing of several bilateral agreements between the two nations across multiple sectors.
In a joint press conference with Pezeshkian in Baghdad, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani announced that the two countries signed 14 memorandums of understanding.
Regarding the Israeli war on Gaza, al-Sudani emphasized that it poses a serious threat to regional stability. He firmly rejected any expansion of the war or violations of state sovereignty, referring to the Israeli assassination of Hamas' politburo chief martyr Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, urging the international community to assume its responsibilities for that matter.
Read more: Pezeshkian stresses importance of ties with Iraq during state visit
For his part, Pezeshkian reaffirmed the Islamic Republic's commitment to strengthening its ties with Iraq across all sectors, emphasizing the importance of coordination on issues of mutual interest. He also underscored the need to implement existing security agreements between the two countries to effectively deter terrorists and counter efforts aimed at destabilizing the region.
He reiterated that Iran desires a strong, stable, and secure Iraq where brotherhood and peace prevail.
Regarding Palestine, the Iranian president stressed that "Israel's" war on Gaza reveals the hypocrisy of Western claims about human rights. He further highlighted that Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people are being perpetrated using US-made weapons.
Read more: WFP warns 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza in 'urgent' need of aid
Earlier, al-Sudani received Pezeshkian at the government palace in Baghdad, where they discussed a range of issues and topics of mutual interest, focused on strengthening cooperation and deepening the partnership between the two nations.
During the talks, the Iraqi prime minister emphasized the significance of joint efforts between Iraq and Iran to address the economic and security challenges facing the region. He also paid tribute to the late President Ebrahim Raisi, recalling his steadfast support for Iraq.
The Iranian president expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Iraq and the Iraqi government for the warm reception, affirming the Islamic Republic's desire to strengthen bilateral relations and continue cooperation programs and memorandums of understanding between the two countries.
Read more: Pezeshkian's visit to Iraq strategic & important for Iran: Velayati
Pezeshkian presented al-Sudani with a letter from Iranian Leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei, thanking Iraq for its efforts during the Arbaeen pilgrimage, which Pezeshkian called a testament to Islamic hospitality.
In addition to his official meetings in Iraq, the Iranian president will visit the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, where he will pay respects at the shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Hussein, revered figures in Islam.
President Pezeshkian's itinerary also includes a trip to Basra in southwestern Iraq, where he will inspect projects being carried out by Iranian companies. He will then travel to northern Iraq's Kurdistan region, visiting its capital Erbil, and the city of Sulaymaniyah at the invitation of regional officials.
